Communist party chief's visit to Washington, 40 years after end of war, is first of its kind

US President Barack Obama and Nguyen Phu Trong, head of the Communist Party of Vietnam, met on Tuesday at the White House, seeking to deepen ties.

The meeting came 40 years after the end of the Vietnam War and 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two former enemies. Trong's visit is the first of its kind paid by a CPV general secretary to the United States.

The two sides recognize the "positive and substantive" developments in many areas of cooperation over the past 20 years, according to a statement.

"Obviously there has been a difficult history," Obama told reporters in a brief joint appearance after their meeting. "What we've seen is the emergence of a constructive relationship that is based on mutual respect."

Trong described the talks as "cordial, constructive, positive and frank," and also qualified their talks on trade and rights as "candid".

"We have been transformed from former enemies to become friends, partners - comprehensive partners," the party chief said.

"I'm convinced that our relationship will continue to grow in the future."

Over the past two years alone, the countries have made significant progress on deepening cooperation in various fields, Obama said, adding that "this was an excellent opportunity for us to deepen our discussions around our vision for a comprehensive partnership".

Obama also said he and Trong candidly discussed issues such as human rights and freedom of religion, acknowledging that the countries still have "significant differences in political philosophy and political systems".

The differences could be resolved in an effective fashion through dialogue as well as cooperation in multilateral organizations, he added.

On the Trans-Pacific Partnership issue, the leaders emphasized the "enormous potential" of the proposed trade agreement that could potentially create significant job growth and prosperity for Vietnamese and US people, Obama said.

But a report by the Congressional Research Service warned that Vietnam's participation in the talks could constrain US efforts to expand the scope and depth of the TPP, given that "Vietnam remains a mixed economy with considerable government intervention."

Since the resumption of their trade relations in the 1990s, bilateral trade has grown from about $220 million in 1994 to $29.6 billion in 2013, according to the report.

Trong, for his part, noted the importance of the nations having transformed from former enemies into comprehensive partners.

The countries have risen above the past, Trong said.

Xinhua - AFP